F-22s over our heads one last time

Fly over marks end of training mission in the Tularosa Basin

Two F-22 Raptors soared just over the heads of people who gathered to say goodbye to the beloved jets at the New Mexico Museum of Space History Thursday.

Originally four F-22s were supposed to fly the skies for the public to view but due to a training mission for the day there was not enough fuel for all four to make the flight.

"We didn't have enough fuel to fly all four airplanes over the town," 49th Wing Commander Col. Andrew Croft said. "We used the fuel for training."

Holloman Air Force Base arranged for the F-22s to fly a final tactical sortie lower than usual over the Tularosa Basin as a way to show gratitude to the citizens of the community for their support of the aircraft and its mission.

"It was amazing to see," Linda Orwoll said. "They were so close we thought we could almost see the pilots. It was neat to see them so low."

NMMSH Director Chris Orwoll said it's always a blast to have any chance to see any sort of military fly overhead and that was why the NMMSH opened up its parking lot to the public.

Chris Orwoll said it was also a chance to honor the airmen who worked on the jets.

"It's kind of sad that this is the last time they are going to be flying over," Jacob Smith said. "They've been here for so long and that's one of the reason I loved it here. I loved the F-22s."

People who visited the NMMSH to see the F-22s fly over the basin one last time shared Smith's sentiments for the aircraft. One person said they would miss the sonic booms created by the jets when they broke the sound barrier.

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"The F-16 is still a super sonic aircraft, 49th Wing Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Stephanie Schonberger said. "In all likelihood the frequency and intensity of those booms is going to change quite a bit. In other words, the F-16 doesn't produce a boom just like the F-22 but we will still hear sonic booms in the Tularosa Basin."

The F-22 squadrons stationed at Holloman are relocating to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and the last aircraft are expected to depart in early April.

Two F-16 training squadrons, corresponding support and maintenance units are relocating to Holloman from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., to replace the F-22s.

"For the last six years this has been a great place for the F-22s to train because of the quality of the air space and the weather," Croft said. "The facilities here on Holloman are world class. So it will also be very good for the F-16 as well."

Croft said there were approximately 650-700 personnel associated with the F-22 mission.

"Really the takeaway here is that the change will be negligible," Schonberger said. "When you compare the projected numbers for the end of 2014 with where we were in 2011, when we had two operational F-22 squadron here, we'll have about 125 fewer personnel."

According to Schonberger, Holloman will continue to grow this year but it will essentially be returning to the size it was in 2011.

"We're currently at the 'bottom of the bathtub' when it comes to personnel because most of the F-22 folks have already left and most of the F-16 folks have not yet arrived," 49th Wing Commander Col. Andrew Croft said.

Croft said losing the F-22 was bitter sweet but that it was the best course of action for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force. He also said the recent sequestration had no impact on the movement of aircraft.

"It was great to fly here but on the flip side it is better for the Air Force and the DOD to consolidate the airplanes like we are doing now for efficiency reasons," he said.

Croft said he would not be jumping into the cockpit of an F-16 while at Holloman because he will have a permanent change of station coming up around July.